our accomodation so far....

coming soon!

Gotta love this caravan!

Apparently decorated by Tresile Cooper (or at least in her style), to raise awareness and funds toward a breast cancer charity here in NZ - we saw the caravan on the local news and as we passed by a camping site I saw the caravan parked up and had to yell 'STOP!'... so that I could photograph it! .... I have to say I didn't have a clue who Trelise Cooper is but she appears to be an NZ version of Cath Kidston!

I just loved the interior! - very Cath Kidston and so pretty! - the darn thing was so small Nige couldn't actually stand up straight in it without banging his head!.

We left a dollar or two for the good cause and enjoyed our unexpected toilet stop!

Happy New Year!

Here's to a happy 2011 .... in no break to tradition we fell asleep before the clock struck midnight (peaked too soon on the sauvignon blanc!) ... so we decided to celebrate the UK's entry into 2011, but then go so carried away having fun sunbathing on the beach we forgot that too, so celebrated anyway ... well, somewhere would have just entered a new year!

still not able to upload pics due to poor internet access so watch this space! .... I've managed a few!

Happy New Year, wherever you are!
The winery near Whatuwhiwhi - Karikari wine is produced here .... we drank a little more than we should, hence slept through new year celebrations!
We're headed south tomorrow, toward Auckland but might just end up stopping at Whangerai! x

Whatuwhiwhi!

I loved the name of this place - (actually pronounced Fot-a-fifi) but it's right out in the middle of nowhere! - internet access patchy - I can't upload pics, its, as the kiwis say, right out in the whop-whops!

Weather very changeable - rain until midday most days then barmy hot sunny afternoons at the beach!.

We're off out for a meal tonight at the local winery to see the new year in! and taste lots of wine!! yum!

The vineyards and the wonderful scenery ... wine tastes much better here ... I think I may just have to stay here forever!

The winery - Karikari.

The Hundertwasser toilets in Kawakawa!

I'm not usually in the habit of taking a camera into a toilet (well not since the embarrassing incident with the disposable camera at Gemma's wedding! ... funny story eh Gemma!), but in this case I made an exception ... the weather was being unkind and it had just started to rain so the lighting is poor - sorry!....

...proof that although free to use and photograph they ask for a donation to the local school, we spent a penny and donated a dollar or two!

Sorry, I should have moved the sani bin eh!

....so THATS what to do with all my empty wine bottles!... hmm, I can feel a project coming on!

I saw three ships come sailing in (the day after) Christmas day....

We set sail on Boxing day on the good ship R. Tucker Thompson, for a days sailing round the bay of islands. You can read more about her here : http://http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._Tucker_Thompson

A short stop on dry land before lunch.

...and to think they let him take the helm!

... with some direction he did quite well......

(those are swimming trunks he's wearing ... he's into tight leather look shorts! .... well, not in public anyway! LOL!)

.... but not as well as me! (obviously!).

... what no power steering!?! - it was bloomin' hard work!

To say I don't usually like boats, the distraction of taking the helm helped! - I wonder if the Cathay Pacific pilot will think the same!?!....

She's in full sail!

Merry Christmas New Zealand style!

After a long day on a trip to the tip if the north island (Cape Reinga) we relaxed in the pool, it had to be done on Christmas day ... just because we could!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!